Conditioned Crawlspaces

A conditioned crawlspace is a crawlspace constructed and insulated so that it is part of the conditioned space of the house. Conditioned crawlspaces remain less common than vented crawlspaces despite performing better in terms of safety, health, comfort, durability and energy consumption.

The following documents examine the benefits of conditioned crawlspaces, how and why they work, and how to understand and interpret relevant sections of the building code. Related documents, such as those discussing basement insulation more generally, are also included in this section.

Today’s houses make it easier for mold to find the food and water it needs to thrive. The cure is a quick cleanup and smarter choices in materials. Reprinted with permission from Fine Homebuilding, December 2006/January 2007, pages 70-75.